The month of August began with a softball tournament among WA football summer competition teams. Each of the four teams choose a theme for the game. Peter’s group decided on dressing as ballerinas.
I’m not sure who came up with the idea, but let’s just say the final result was…interesting. I never thought I’d be found shopping at Walmart for white tights for my son. Their team played remarkably well, despite the tutus.
Once that was over, Peter put on his tiling hat and went to work on our master bathroom shower. The shower had been leaking ever since we moved in, so this upgrade was much needed.
Ruth enjoyed a girls’ weekend at Grandma’s condo. They went for a late night swim,
got their nails done, and toured the Art Institute, among other fun activities.
Ruth is learning to love cooking! She’s picked up chopping and dicing skills quickly, and I sure appreciate her help.
The biggest family event of the month–even the summer–was Derek’s move from home to college. He had his final doctor appointment with Dr. Eckberg, our most favorite pediatrician.
Jim and I took Derek out for an all-you-can-eat meat lunch.
Then the time came to move out, definitely a bittersweet event. He moved in to the dorm at Wheaton College a couple weeks before freshman orientation in order to begin football practice. He met with the team for the first time, along with parents.
He and roommate Christian knew a couch would come in handy in their spartan room, so our loveseat made its way from the basement
to the third floor of Fischer dorm.
Both families helped get the room all set up.
Another arrow launched.
Derek began dating Alyssa–who had already committed to go to Wheaton College–over the summer. Now they get to study together and hang out on campus!
We had one last s’mores party before school started.
We took our annual first day of school pic. Our numbers are dwindling here at home! Peter: 10th grade, Jeremy: 8th grade, and Ruth: 4th grade.
Peter put on his cook hat and prepared 200 crepes for a football moms’ breakfast.
Ruth learned how plants and animals are classified in her science class on Botany.
Out in Colorado, Jake was quite busy leading tours at USAFA. He led a couple of our family friends, the Crudeles
and the Hyatts.
He also led the family of one of Jim’s group guys. He loves sharing this part of his life with others.
At the end of the month, it was time for us to head out for our final parents’ weekend (for now!?). Peter stayed back for football, and Mom and Dad drove out with the rest of us. We left early in the morning in order to arrive in time to meet up with Jake and Tiffany for dinner.
The next day was the parade. For the first time, the sky was clear and the temperature was warm.
#ProudGrandma
We met up with Jake on the parade field,
hung out in his room for a while,
and toured the Aeronautical building.
We saw this poster of Jake’s graduating class of Aero majors. This group has bonded over the past four years.
There is no doubt he is right where he belongs. I marvel at God’s kindness in making the path clear.
Meanwhile, back at home, Peter won a football game. He had Aunts Jeanine and Judi and Uncle Dave there to cheer him on!
He hopped on a plane the next day to meet us in Colorado, where we were very eager to have him join us. We went to a USAFA game and spent time hanging out at the hotel. We celebrated Tiffany’s 20th birthday.
Parents’ Weekend continued into the first couple days of September, then it would be time to return home.